Solihull Council leader Karen Grinsell has broken her silence on the planned closure of the town's Post Office in Mell Square, confirming that work is underway to find a new location for the branch.
TGJones has announced it will close its store in Mell Square this summer, taking the Post Office branch inside with it. The store, formerly a WHSmith, was rebranded under the TGJones name after a multi-million-pound acquisition by Modella Capital last year.
The retailer currently operates 180 post offices across the country, but as many as 60 could reportedly shut under a restructuring plan. The Solihull shop, which also houses a Toys 'R' Us, has been confirmed as one of at least eight branches closing nationwide.
The shop and Post Office will close on July 11, a Post Office spokesperson confirmed. This means Solihull residents would be forced to travel to the nearest post office just over a mile away in Elmdon Heath.
The announcement sparked a strong reaction on social media, with residents expressing disbelief that a town the size of Solihull would no longer have a Post Office, describing it as a “nail in the coffin” for the town centre.
Now, Council leader Grinsell has intervened, releasing a statement: “We know that the closure of TGJones and the Post Office in Mell Square will be disappointing for many. While the decision on any future Post Office provision sits with Post Office Ltd, we are working to support potential franchise applications by exploring suitable premises within the town centre.”
A Post Office spokesperson said: “We fully recognise the challenging trading conditions that TGJones and many other high street retailers are facing at the moment. Regrettably, following the launch of its restructuring plan, TGJones has confirmed that its Solihull store will close, as will the Post Office within store on July 11. We know how important our products and services are to the local community. We have advertised the vacancy and would welcome interest from retailers looking to host a Post Office branch within their store. More details are available at runapostoffice.co.uk. There is also a Post Office at Elmdon Heath.”
